LATE drama struck The Portway as Winterbourne slipped to a one-wicket defeat on the penultimate ball in a compelling County Division 4 West contest with Mottisfont.

Openers Jamie Harvey and Craig Johnson got off to a flier with 16 runs coming off the first over.

They took the score to 97 without loss in the 19th over, and built a platform for a formidable score with all 10 wickets still in hand.

The introduction of Southwell changed the course of the game as Harvey was caught on the edge of the boundary for 36. Johnson was caught for a well made 74 but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

A late order collapse was completed when Lawrence, Waddington, Cunningham and Candler all fell with just 10 more runs being added to the score. From 97-0, Winterbourne had been bowled out for 202. Dadd finished unbeaten on 32.

Jon Candler picked up the wicket of Bradwell in his fifth over and Winterbourne were right in the game with Mottisfont on 23-1 off 10 overs.

New batsman Blake looked a threat from the off, driving the ball hard down the ground. Ed Dadd bowled an excellent first couple of overs and had Collins caught behind for 11.

In the 16th over, Blake drilled Cunningham straight to mid-off but the chance went down and Mottisfont were given a massive reprieve. From then on, the visitors were in complete control, and Blake put on 138 with Husbands for the third wicket, taking them to 186 for two with eight overs left.

However, when Blake was caught by Johnson for 67, a collapse of spectacular proportions occurred.

Nick Lawrence and Joe Cunningham returned to peg Mottisfont right back with just nine runs coming off the next six overs.

Lawrence caught and bowled Gribbell and as panic was starting to set in from the tight ring of fielders, Evans was run out and Godwin and Wilburn were bowled in quick succession. Remarkably, Mottisfont required seven runs to win from the final over with three wickets remaining.

Husbands held his nerve and hammered a four straight down the ground. With three required from four balls, Husbands attempted a two off the next ball to bring the scores level, but Blake was run out at the other end meaning only a single had been added. Crucially though it meant Husbands was on strike . Exactly the same thing happened next ball and Lawrence was run out coming back for the second. The scores were now level with two balls to go but once again Husbands was on strike. He drilled the ball to Johnson who was in tight at mid off and set off for the single. Johnson's throw missed the stumps by a few feet to seal a win for Mottisfont with a ball to spare. Husbands finished on 96 not out.